40. electro-punkCrystal Castles – Crystal Castles (III)Casablanca/Fiction/Republic
If CC had felt any urge to wail in raucous unison, “Who’s laughing now, haters?” on (III), it would have seemed justified. Six years after the blog-crazed hype (and obligatory backlash) that introduced them to the world, they’re still churning out oppressively dark music. (III) is their most cohesive statement to date, moving away from haunted teenage posturing (as well as computers and samples) to zero in on global dystopia. Their slow burning protest songs remind us they can channel synth-punk rage to great effect. (M-O Harding)

38. electronicAddison Groove – Transistor Rhythm50 WeaponsAddison Groove’s first LP is 808 funk that jukes and jives, breaking hip-hop and messing up the house with a great big rave in the process. Synthetic polyrhythms, addictive loops and a raw sensibility make this an addictive dose of dance music that keeps your feet working while your mind reels. Stoopidly brilliant. (Lucinda Catchlove)

37. indie-rockMount Eerie – Clear MoonP.W. Elverum & Sun
Phil Elverum and co. bedazzle and wow on their first of two records out this year. Few musicians out there hold the ability to create a seamless aural web of folk, metal, electronic and pop - Elverum does. On display is a truly original art form, quietly loud, glacial yet warm, detached yet inviting. (Steve Guimond)

35. piano with personalityGonzales – Solo Piano IIArts & Crafts
This virtuoso pianist’s skill set runs the gamut from pop, hip-hop and electro to classical. On this sequel of sorts to 2004’s beautiful Solo Piano, you (thankfully) won’t be subjected to his orchestral rap shtick. This collection of intimate, jazz-influenced instrumental pieces features stirring melodies that range from the dramatic to the tender. With it, Gonzales aims to bring renewed relevance to classical piano compositions in our pop day and age. Mission accomplished. (Michael-Oliver Harding)

34. rootsy bootyA Tribe Called Red – A Tribe Called RedIndependent
Once you hear “pow wow step,” the marriage of pow wow rhythms and modern beats and breaks sounds as natural and obvious as African rhythms in house. There’s no tribal kitsch here, authentic tribal rhythms and chants mix it up with hip-hop, dancehall and dubstep for a party you don’t want to miss. (Lucinda Catchlove)

30. orchestral popPatrick Watson – Adventures in Your Own BackyardSecretCity
In this latest foray into his self-made aural dreamland, Montrealer and Polaris Music Prize winner Patrick Watson fuses his whimsical falsetto with orchestral stylistic excerpts from Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western scores. The result is a sound more impactful than any of his works before; for, although Adventures takes cues from monolithic references, Watson has succeeded in creating an enchanting, cinematic style all his own. (Natasha Young)

29. post-apocalyptic hip-hopDeath Grips – No Love Deep WebIndépendant
What happens when hip-hop hangs out on 4 Chan and surfs the deep web? A revenge of the nerds straight out of the ghetto, that’s what. Punk as fuck, this raw, bleeping and bloody-minded hardcore hip-hop is a testament to the creative power of human rage in the machine. (Lucinda Catchlove)

27. rock de chez rockThe Men – Open Your HeartSacred Bones
Brooklyn’s finest four-piece leads the pack from one of the coolest labels around. Their third full-length teeters with a taut high-wire tension between out-there experimentalism and a love of old time rock and roll, punk and gunk. Sparse and minimal, largely wordless, guitar freak outs, no bullshit. (Steve Guimond)

22. art-rockThe Luyas – AnimatorPaper Bag
Montreal-based orchestral indie pop group The Luyas’ follow-up to 2011’s dreamy Too Beautiful to Work approaches a deeper, darker sound to suit its profound lyrical material. Lead by Jessie Stein and her mysterious Moodswinger (an electric zither, as it were), this thoughtful beauty of an album paints dramatic yet soothing soundscapes with the myriad tools at the multi-instrumentalists‘ disposal – and with a little help from violinist Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire fame. (Natasha Young)

21. danger and desire-fueled electroChromatics – Kill for LoveItalians Do It Better
The wait was excruciating. Since 2007’s sublime Night Drive, prolific multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel (Glass Candy, Desire) focused his energies on a number of side projects (including botched plans to score the Gosling thrill ride Drive). Nevertheless, the epic Kill for Love, with its rich cinematic textures, sumptuous synths, road-movie atmospherics and throbbing, neon-lit romanticism, was every bit worth the wait. Here’s hoping the ineffable Jewel crackles and coos his way into scoring Gosling’s upcoming directorial debut… (Michael-Oliver Harding)